Genus VIRALVA, Leach.

Gun. Cuar. Beak shorter than the head, s

ubulated, nearly straight, slightly ¢
tip a little inclined : ane

the upper mandible nearly straig]

long. Tael slightly forked.

ompressed, the
it. Nostrils oblong, basal.

Wings
Feet four-toed, slender ; the hinde

r toe minute. Claws small.

BLACK TERN.

Sterna nigra, Linn.

Viralva nigra, Leach.

LHirondelle-de-mer epouvantail.
Autuoucn we have given the generic characters of the genus Viralva of Dr. Le
Terns which have their tails almost square, in addition to other

to adopt the genus of this naturalist, on the ground, that the
in our opinion to substantiate a new genus.

ach, comprehending those
less important characters ; we still hesitate
separation is established on characters too trivial
It will, however, be our aim to give a complete account of the
habits of the present bird and the other European species included in this genus, leaving our readers to adopt
it, or not, as they think best.

The Black Tern is an abundant species, but confined more especially to the vicinity of large rivers, fresh-
water lakes, and morasses, particularly those of Holland and Germany, and extending thence as far as the
Arctic circle. It annually visits the fens and marshy districts of this country, such as those of Cambridgeshire,
Norfolk, and Lincolnshire, for the purpose of incubation, but is not near so abundant now as formerly. This
species assembles to breed in flocks more or less numerous among the flags and willows which border the
edges of water, laying four or five eggs of a dark olive brown, marked with numerous spots of darker brown
and black.

The Black Tern differs in its habits, nanners, food, mode of nidification, the situations it selects for that
purpose, and its manner of flight, from the true Terns, which may at once be distinguished from it by their
very long wings, and swallow-like form of tail, and by their giving a preference to the sea and its inlets, where
they obtain their food, which consists in a great measure of small fish, mollusca and other marine productions ;
Bed in the present bird we find the wing less elongated, and the tail less forked, the tarsi longer, and the toes
less webbed, while the food is taken almost solely during flight, and consists of winged insects, such as moths,
flies, and the larger species of gnats, to which are added aquatic larve, and occasionally small fishes. ;

The flight of the Black Tern also, instead of that heavy flapping motion which characterizes the oceanic
Terns, is smooth and rapid, while the bird continues to pass and repass over the same space like the Swallow
in search of its insect food. In England, the Black Tern appears to be migratory, leaving us after the breeding
season is over, and returning the following spring ; a circumstance we should a by take place a in
the northern portions of Europe. Although the young of all the ots differ in colour from the adult bird,
the contrast of the present species is the most remarkable, the eae the two being almost Satie
opposite ; they notwithstanding soon assume the adult state of colouring, and in about eight months gain
their mature livery. The males and females are alike in plumage.

The adult Binds have the beak, head, neck and breast black, becoming paler on the abdomen; the whole
of the upper surface and tail of a fuliginous grey ; vent and under tail-coverts ya ne a nan
brown. The young have the forehead, cheeks, neck, and whole » the under sul - aren 5
top of the head and occiput greyish brown; the back, wings and tail grey, intermingled wi ;

We have figured an adult and a young bird of the natural size.

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